A young innovator from Kenya is making waves with a groundbreaking app that helps bridge the communication gap between deaf and hearing communities. Elly Savatia created Terp 360, an AI-powered tool that turns spoken words or text into sign language using realistic 3D avatars, kind of like “Google Translate,” but for sign language.
His invention just earned him the prestigious Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation from the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering, along with a $50,000 award. What makes this even more inspiring is that Savatia developed the app alongside Kenya’s deaf community, capturing over 2,300 signs to ensure it truly reflects local language and culture.
The technology has huge potential to make everyday life more accessible for millions across Africa, where there’s a shortage of human interpreters. By translating speech into sign language instantly, it can help deaf people access education, jobs, and healthcare without relying on costly or unavailable interpreters.
Elly and his team are already working on expanding the app to include even more African and global sign languages by 2027. As one of the judges said, this innovation isn’t just about technology, it’s about inclusion, dignity, and giving more people a voice in a world that too often forgets to listen.